Vol. 13, Issue 6 (2024)

Author(s):
Dr. VH Borkar, Dr. MP Meshram and PS Kalpande

Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted at Agriculture Research Station, Sakoli, Dist: Bhandara under Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola (Maharashtra) during the Kharif season in 2023 to study the performance of nitrobenzene 20% EW on growth and yield of rice. Five different concentrations of nitrobenzene 20% EW (1.5 mL T-1, 3.0 mL T-2, 4.5 mL T-3, 6.0 mL T-4 and T-5 water spray) as foliar spray were tested on rice variety PDKV Sadhana under irrigated condition. Application of nitrobenzene 20% EW at different concentrations with recommended fertilizers (RF) showed significant effect on rice growth and yield. Among all treatments, treatment T3 i.e. foliar application of nitrobenzene 20% EW@ 4.5 mL L-1 of water recorded significantly highest grain and straw yield along with growth and yield attributing characters of rice crop, which produced the superior results compared with other concentrations of nitrobenzene. Among the treatments, 4.5 milliliter of nitrobenzene per liter of water showed optimum levels to ensure the growth and yield performance of rice. However, since nitrobenzene is a new type of plant stimulant, detailed studies on its mode of action, interaction with other plant growth hormones and environmental effects are required to get an insight on rice response to nitrobenzene and its widespread application in rice cultivation.